Prince George, B.C., August 9, 2011 – Barker Minerals Ltd. (“BML” on TSX/V) (the “Company”) is pleased to provide an exploration update on its 100% owned Frank Creek VMS project. Current exploration activities are being focused on a major high potential target where previous exploration has exposed a broad zone of VMS style alteration associated with base and precious metal mineralization. Exploration activities being conducted at Frank Creek include trenching; drill pad preparation; access road construction and upgrades; and reclamation in some areas of previous activities. The property is located in the Cariboo Mining District of British Columbia approximately 77 km northeast of Williams Lake B.C. and hosts excellent access and infrastructure. (Location Map)
Trenching activities are being undertaken to follow up on the exciting 2009 discovery of a broad zone of strongly anomalous to potentially high grade, base and precious metal mineralization in a well-defined stratigraphic horizon with the mineralization being enriched in copper, zinc, lead, silver and gold as well as a number of pathfinder elements that are characteristically elevated in and around Kuroko type VMS deposits. BM-10-156
The 2009 trenching discovery on Line 53N and 22+50W was an extension across the stratigraphy of the 2008 original Line 53N area trenching and drilling discovery. The trenching exposed approximately 75 metres of a highly altered sulphide zone comprised of lenses, pods and blocks of massive sulphide mineralization. The discovery extended the overall width of the Line 53N trenching and drilling mineralized and altered zone, to approximately a 100 metre true width which is still open in all directions. The blocky massive sulphide mineralization occurs together with stringer sulphides in favourable felsic volcanic rocks. Massive pyrite occurs together with variable amounts of sphalerite (zinc), galena (lead), and chalcopyrite (copper).
The width of the mineralized zone remains open to the southeast and northwest as well as along strike in both directions. The zone is also open at depth where a large and strong Titan 24 Conductor has a 3-D subsurface signature similar to that of a massive sulphide body. The exploration results to date, on surface and in initial exploration drilling, along with the overturned nature of the rocks in this area bode well for a potential economic ore body being present below the broad near surface VMS style footwall mineralization and alteration discovered to date through trenching and initial exploration drilling. (Titan Geophysical Model)
2011 trenching is focused on defining the parameters of the zone on surface and exposing the bedrock geology for examination in advance of the next phase of recommended drilling to take place where the Titan Trend “A” Conductor nears surface on Line 53N.
The Line 53N and 22W area is centred on the strongest co-incident multi-element enzyme leach soil anomaly and is near the contact betweenchargeability highs and resistivity lows, a geophysical pattern which is consistent with a favourable location for the formation of volcanogenic massive sulphide mineralization. (Soils; Copper, Lead, Zinc)
The overall size, geometry and grades of the mineralized zone will ultimately be determined through future drilling programs testing the immediate discovery area, and by tracing the mineralized zone along the prospective horizon both to the northwest and to the southeast, and to depth.
Other Prominent Nearby Drill Targets
The Titan-24 geophysical survey shows a broad and strong conductor 200 metres to the south of the Line 53N trenching and drilling discovery area which is centred on Line 51 at a moderate depth with the top of the conductor being 250 – 300 metres from surface. The same conductor is also present on Lines 53N and 55N, only deeper down, with the top of the conductor being between 400 – 500 metres from surface. This area of the Titan Trend “A” Conductor has a subsurface 3-D signature similar to that of a massive sulphide body. This large and strong anomaly, along with the Line 53N trenching and drilling discovery area, are high priority targets for the next phase of drilling at Frank Creek. (Lines 51N, 53N, 55N Geophysical Sections)
Summary and Recommendations
The widespread occurrence of footwall-type alteration and mineralization, on surface and in drill core, affirms the overturned nature of the local stratigraphy, which is also evidenced by results from previous surface exploration programs including Provincial Government geological mapping of the area. The massive sulphide lenses discovered in the Discovery Trench in 2001 and in the F9 Target trenches in 2007 – 2009 exist in a favourable stratigraphic contact horizon occurring within, or somewhat below, sedimentary rocks that are locally graphitic, and atop and partly within a felsic volcaniclastic pile. VMS deposits in other mining districts commonly form at or along contact of sedimentary and volcanic rocks with similar alteration assemblages.
Access roads are being constructed and upgraded and initial drill pads for the next phase of drilling are being prepared near the Line 53 Discovery area. Reclamation activities are also being undertaken in other areas of past exploration activities where sampling has already been completed.
Extensive trenching and five thousand metres of drilling in a grid pattern has been recommended to follow the surface massive sulphide mineralization outward from the known locations near Line 53N and 22W. Two 750 metre deep drill holes are also recommended nearby on each of Lines 51N and 53N to test the heart of the compelling strong Trend “A” low resistivity anomaly.
A Line 53N tentative schematic interpretation of the geology and structure can be viewed in the following link Line 53 Interpretation)
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was prepared under the supervision of Rein Turna, B.Sc., P.Geo. the Company’s “qualified person” under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Barker Minerals
Barker Minerals is advancing exploration on its mineral properties in the Cariboo Gold District, one of the most mineralized belts in British Columbia. The Company has more than 20 projects on its exploration properties, all of which are 100% owned by Barker Minerals. Eight projects have drill-ready gold and/or massive sulphide targets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.BARKERMINERALS.COM OR CONTACT:
Louis E. Doyle
Tel: (250) 563-8752
Fax: (250) 563-8751
Robert H. Kuhl
Tel: (604) 321-0709
Fax: (604) 321-0719
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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